About Marcel Rodrigues

Hat making was never on the career agenda for Marcel. Although he has always had a love of fashion, and an interest in the industry that led him to a career as an apprentice at Cad & The Dandy on Savile Row in 2008, hat making was never on the cards.

That is until early 2017 when his obsession with exceptionally made hats was ignited.

Marcel began by spending hours and hours painstakingly researching the history of hat making, traditional hat making techniques, the tools and materials used and everything in between.

Marcel began selling some of his much-loved vintage items in order to make enough money to buy some of the tools necessary to start blocking his own hats, and he travelled around the UK in search of the right tools. Marcel started honing his techniques and soon found that people began to take notice of his creations.

In December 2017 the brand was formally founded.

Marcel’s wife, Becky, left her career to join the business in 2018 and by early 2019 the family had relocated to Cornwall with the business now a full-time venture.

Just shy of 5 years on and the brand has now opened its second location at the home of bespoke tailoring, Savile Row.

Sustainable from Conception to Creation

Sustainability is fundamental to Marcel Rodrigues. It is at the forefront of all decisions made here, from the materials we use, to our chosen energy suppliers, to where and how our products are made. In a world dominated by fast and unsustainable fashion, we believe that transparency in our making process is essential in shifting the mindset of what sustainability in fashion really means.

Handmade in the UK

All of our products are made by hand in the UK. Our hats are individually made in our Savile Row and Cornwall shops. Our garments are made to order by our two Cornwall-based makers. Nothing here is mass produced or made overseas.

100% Natural Materials

All materials that we use in the making of our hats are natural, not only adding to the finished quality of our products, but also ensuring that at the end of their life they will naturally biodegrade.

Repurposing Materials

Wherever possible, we utilise repurposed or end-of-line materials in the production of our garments. This prevents the fabrics from unnecessarily being taken to landfill. Blankets, cotton canvas tents, and sleeping bags are just some of the items that we repurpose into high quality clothing.

Sustainable Energy Suppliers

We ensure that the energy suppliers that we use provide 100% renewable energy.

Our Team

MARCEL RODRIGUES
Founder,
Hat Maker and CEO

Hat making was never on the career agenda for Marcel. A love of fashion and an interest in the industry led him to a career as an apprentice at Cad & The Dandy on Savile Row in 2008. An obsession with exceptionally made hats was ignited.

Marcel started honing his techniques and soon found that people began to take notice of his creations. In December 2017, the Marcel Rodrigues brand was formally founded and just shy of 5 years on has now opened its second location at the home of bespoke tailoring, Savile Row.

MARIA AGRELA
Seamstress

Maria was born in Madeira, and fashion has always been a part of her life. Maria’s mother was a wedding dress maker and from a very young age Maria helped her make the dresses. Maria's skills range from dress making, menswear and even hand and silk embroidery, which Madeira is very well known for.

Maria moved to the United Kingdom and has continued making clothing and pattern drafting with over 50 years of experience.

MAC JOHNSON
Hat Maker

Mac is our apprentice hat-maker, based in Cornwall. Originally from North Carolina, he brings some authentic US influence to the workshop. Mac has two passions in life; making music and making hats. He spends his time touring the country and writing music as one half of the indie-folk duo, ‘Our Atlantic Roots’.

As well as finding Mac in the workshop shaping and adding all the important details to our clients’ hats, you’ll find him sporting his own bespoke Marcel Rodrigues hats at various festivals and events around the UK.

CHRISTINA PALMER
Head of Design and Manufacturing

Christina studied fashion and design at Derby University and went onto work with Daniel Hansen in his design studio under the ‘Frog Design’ label, making design samples for jeans and denim jackets and pattern grading. This developed into working on samples for the dressing gown range that the Daniel Hansen name is now famous for.

Christina went on to work with Jan Prestwich and they became business partners; offering freelance services including, pattern grading, design, sampling and small-scale manufacturing.



Our Weavers

The women who produce our Panama hats are skilled weavers, exhibiting extraordinary precision as artisans in an age-old tradition that transforms humble straw into exquisite works of art. Their deft hands navigate intricate patterns, weaving stories and traditions into each hat. Beyond their artistic prowess, these artisans play a pivotal role in supporting sustainability and preserving cultural heritage. By utilizing locally sourced, environmentally friendly materials and traditional techniques passed down through generations, they contribute to a carbon-neutral production process that supports their local community and promotes a vital connection to Ecuador's rich heritage. These skilled weavers, through their craft, not only create beautiful accessories but also embody the resilience crucial for preserving cultural identity and building a sustainable future.

Trunk Shows

At this moment in time we do not attend any international trunk shows however this is something we hope to change for the 2024 season.

Contact Us

Visit Us

London Store
20 Savile Row, London, W13 3PL

Cornwall Store
7 Chi Myghtern Arthur Plen, Tennyson Nansledan, Newquay , TR8 4SE

Email Us

info@marcelrodrigues.co.uk

Call Us

0203 740 2740

Connect With Us

Instagram:
@_marcelrodrigues_

Facebook:
marcelrodrigueshats

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